Railway-switching system



May 29, 1928; 1,671,108

E. FROLICH RAILWAY SWITCHING; SYSTEM Filed Sept. 24, 1926 Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST FBGLICH, 0F ESSEN, GERMANY.

RAILWAY-SWITCHING SYSTEM.

Application filed September 24, 1926, Serial No. 187,586, and in Germany September 19, 1925. r I

My invention relates to improvements inbeing provided with rollers adapted to en gage the wheels of the cars. I In systems of this type such as are now in use the said rollers aremounted for being moved, upwardlyand downwardly and into and out of position for engagement with the flanges of the wheels. Thus, for setting the apparatus into inoperative position in which the wheels are free to move over the same the rollers are moved downwardly a suitable distance below the bottom part of the flanges of the wheels. This construction is objectionable for the reason that the slide and the vertically movable parts thereof are comparatively high, and it is necessary to place the rails on high stringers disposed oncrosstiesb Thus the cost of the track is high, the

increase of the cost amounting to a high item in large switch systems. Further, the safety ofthe track is interfered with by the high position of the rails, because the strength thereof as against lateral strength is re- I duced. Further, the system is objectionable for the reason that the base of the rails must be reduced in breadth at the inner side be cause the rollers, which are designed to engage theflanges of the wheels, are located closeto the inner side of the top of the rail and are moved downwardly when being brought into inoperative positions. The cutting away of the inner part of the base of the rail is expensive, and further, the stability of the rail is reduced.

The object of theimprovement-s is'to provide a system in which the track has the normal construction,and in which the guides for the slide can be readily mounted at any part of the track. With this object in view sponding parts.

yielding to the wheels when the slide is moved in a direction in which it is inoperative. By. thus mounting the rollers on laterally rockable bars the height or the construction can be made so low that it can bedisposed in a track of normal construction within the free space below the cars. Thus the cost ofthe system is materially reduced and the safety of the track, is increased.

For the purpose of explaining the inven-,

tion two examples embodying the same have been shown in the accompanying drawing, in which the same letters of reference have been used in all the views to indicate corre- In said drawing,

Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2, I

Fig. 2, is a top plan view of a part of the traik and the tractionapparatusor slide, an I o I Fig. 3, is asectional elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. I I I Fig. 4:, is a view similar to F ig. 1 showing a modified form of the invention;

Asshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, between the rails; 3, 3 a slide 1' is mounted for being moved lengthwise of the rails, said slidebeing mounted on rails 2 fixed to the rails 3.

Suitable means are provided for moving the that in some cases I provide the slide witha motor. On vertical pivot bolts 4 fixed to the slide 1 bars 5 are rockingly mounted, which bars are adapted to be rocked in lateral direction. Preferably means are provided for normally forcing the said. bars outwardly and into'operative positions To show what may be done a compression spring 6 is provided which is connected with the bars by links 16. Thus, when the bars are in oper ative positions, they are disposed angularly of the rails 3 and with theirends above the said rails. At the said endsthebars carry rollers 7 and 11, the rollers 11 being inpositions for rolling on the top faces of the rails, and the rollers .7 being in positions for engaging the steel tires of the wheels. Any

suitable means may be employed for anchoringthe rails 2, theillustrated embodimenthaving threaded fastening means 13 which secure said rails 2 to the web portions of the main rails 3.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

For moving a car on the track the slide 1 r is moved by means of the rope, 8,, 9in the-ditime the rollers 11 bear on the top facesof rection of the arrow at, the rollers 7 being held in operative positions andabove the rails by the spring 6. Suitable means are provided for hair-l lting the outward stroke of the bars 5, 5. To show what may be done,the bars 5, '5 are connected by a flexible member 17' such as a steel'rope. When moving the slide in the direction of the arrow as the rollersT engage the tire of the car wheel 12 indicated in Fig. 3 in'broken lines, so that the car is-moved forwardly. In the meanthe rails thus providing a support for the free ends of the bars 5. When moving the slidel rearwardly and in a direction oppositeto the arrow as theouter facesof the bars 5 areengaged by'the flanges of the wheels and theyarerocked thereby inwardly and into thepositions shown in Fig. 2 inbroken lines. After having passed the car the arms 5 are automatically "rocked outwardly by the spring 6. Thus by moving-the slide forwardly and: backwardly the cars located} on the particularportion of the track can be moved in one direction. For moving carsin y the opposite direction the sli-de'is reversed.

In Fig. 4 a modification ofthe invention i is; illustrated, this form being characterized by a plurality of spaced shoes 10 to support the frame 1, i-n'place of the rails 2' of the first embodiment. Said shoes 10 aremount ed atdesired intervals and are preferably associated withfthe tie platesas clearly shown. The remainder of the" structure is likethat already described.

While in describing the invention refer once has been made to particular examples embodying the same I wish it to beunder stood that I do not limit myself to the constructionsshown'in the drawing, and that various changes may be made in the general 1 arrangement of the system and the construction of its parts without departing from theinvention.

1,. In, a system of the class described, the

, combination, with the rails of the track, of

i framelocated between said rails and movable longitudinally" thereof," a member mounted on said frame for being movable into and out of position for engagement with one of the wheels of a car placed on the track, and yielding means tending to move said member into operative position, said member being constructed for being moved by car intoinoperative position.

3. In a system of the class described, the

(combination, with the rails of the track, of

a frame located between said rails and movable longitudinally thereof, apair bars mounted on said frame at the sides thereof for being rocked with their free ends late-rally and into position for engagementwith the wheels of a. carplaced on said track,

means to move said bars into and out of v operative positions relatively to said wheels, and driving means for said frame. i

l. In a system of the class described, the. combination, with the rails of the track, of a frame located between said rails and movablelongittidinally thereof, a pair of bars mounted on said frame at the sides thereoffor being rocked with their free endslaterally and into position for engagement with the wheels of a car placed on said: track, a spring connected with said bars and tending to -move the sameoutwardly' and into position for engagement with the wheels of a car placed on thetrack, and driving means for said frame.

5. lin a system of the class described, the combination, with the rails of the. track, of aframe'located between said rails and movable; longitudinally thereof, bars mounted on said frame; for beingrockable in lat--- eral direction into and out of position for engagement with the wheels of a car located on said rails, said bars carrying pressure rollers at their outer ends, means to move said bars outwardly and into position for engagement with the wheels, and means. tomove said frame.

6. In a system of the class described,

the combination, with the rails of the track, of a frame located between said rails and movable longitudinally thereof, a membermounted on said frame for being movable transversely of the rails into, and out oifi' position above one of the rails and for ens gagement with the wheels of cars: placed on the rails, said member carrying a rollier adapted for engagement with. the top; face of said rail, and driving means. for said frame.

combination, with the rails of the track, of a frame located between said. rails; and. movable longitudinal-11y thereof, a.- member mounted on said frame for being movable transverselyof the rails into and out ofpor sition on the top face ot' one of the rails and for engagement with, the wheels of cans. placed on the rails, and; driving means for: said frame. a

g 7 In a system of the class described, the.

of a frame located between said rails and movable longitudinally thereof, a pair of guide rails disposed lengthwise of the track rails and in position for supporting said frame, a member mounted on said frame for being movable transversely of the rails into and out of position for engagement with the Wheels of cars placed on the rails, and driv- I ing means for said frame.

9. In a system of the class described, the combination, with the rails of the track,

of a frame located between said rails and movable longitudinally thereof, shoes located at the side of said rails and in position for supporting said frame, a member mounted on said frame for being movable transversely of the rails into and out of position for engagement with the wheels of cars placed on the rails, and driving means for said frame.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature.

ERNST memoir. 

